Brianna Davey

Brianna Davey

File:Brianna Davey.jpg Davey with Melbourne Victory in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Brianna Iris Davey
Date of birth	(1995-01-13) 13 January 1995
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Height
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Melbourne City
Number	1
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Melbourne Victory	47	(0)
2013	→ Linköping FC (loan)	5	(0)
2015–	Melbourne City	7	(0)
International career‡
	Australia U20
2012–	Australia	17	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 January 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 October 2015

Brianna Iris Davey (born 13 January 1995) is an Australian soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for Australian W-League team Melbourne City. She is best known for displacing current Matildas captain and former number one goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri at Melbourne Victory, forcing her to find another club.

Club career

Melbourne Victory

Davey was initially an Australian Rules Football player until discovered kicking a football at age 13 by a soccer scout while on a family holiday. Instantly discovered to have a talent as goalkeeper, Davey made inroads early and made Victorian representative and elite squads. Interestingly she was the number 1 mini draft selection for the Western Bulldogs to play in a televised AFL match against Melbourne Demons in August 2015 (at Etihad Stadium). After missing squad selection to the soccer World Cup she joined local (living Port Melbourne) VWFL team St Kilda Sharks. For now - like other womens athletes there is a capacity to pursue multiple sports.

Signed to Melbourne Victory Women as a fifteen-year-old as back-up keeper to Barbieri in Season 2010–11, she made three appearances in the short 11 match season.

Doing enough to prove to Head Coach Vicki Linton that not only was she a prospect for the future, but that she was already as talented as the ageing Barbieri, Linton made the tough call to cut the National Team Captain and instill Davey as the number one choice.

Although many fans voiced their protest on Twitter, Facebook and internet forums, it only took a handful of matches for Davey to prove her worth. With many incredible saves and a safe pair of hands, coupled with the fact that Barbieri's form was shaky for her new club Newcastle Jets, Davey was the standout keeper for the first half of Season 2011–12 of the Westfield W-League.

Despite an injury keeping her out of the Week Six match against Brisbane Roar, Davey has started every other match looking composed and showing experience beyond her years.

Sweden

In August 2013, Davey agreed to play for Swedish Damallsvenskan club Linköping FC during the Australian off-season. Linköping coach Martin Sjögren required a replacement for Sofia Lundgren, who had a back injury. On signing Davey Sjögren described her as "probably the world's most talented goalkeeper".

Melbourne City

On 20 August 2015, after five years with Victory, Davey signed a contract with intra-city rivals Melbourne City, becoming the first ever goalkeeper for their newly-created W-League side.

International career

Davey has represented Australia in the Young Matildas, often facing-off for the starting position with Brisbane Roar prodigy Casey Dumont.

After being involved in national team camps for over a year, Davey made her international debut for the Matildas in a 4–0 friendly victory over Haiti; keeping a clean sheet.

After a four-month residency programme, national coach Alen Stajcic surprisingly dropped Davey from Australia's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. Resurgent veteran Melissa Hudson (née Barbieri) was recalled at Davey's expense.

See also

• Women's association football in Australia

External links

• Matildas player profile
• Melbourne City player profile